Mount Dora Business and Community Spotlights

06/17/2026

Mount Dora’s Juneteenth Celebration is bringing an afternoon of music, food, games, culture, and community connection to Cauley Lott Park this Saturday.

Join the City of Mount Dora, FL on Saturday, June 20 from 3–8 PM for a free, family-friendly celebration featuring live music by E-Turn and guest musicians, DJ Samp Da Champ, 104.5 The Beat, basketball activities, kids games, food and drinks, and plenty of summer energy.

Held in Mount Dora’s Northeast Community, an area with a deep African-American history of educators, churches, business owners, civil rights leaders, community leaders, and longtime residents, this celebration is a meaningful way to honor Juneteenth while coming together as a community.

Saturday, June 20
3–8 PM
Cauley Lott Park
1717 N. Highland Street, Mount Dora

Come celebrate culture, connection, and community in Mount Dora.

06/17/2026

Merch Tent Media is quickly becoming a familiar name around Mount Dora.

The local company is newer to town, but they have already become an important partner of the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center, helping us strengthen our video content and better capture the stories behind local businesses, events, and community moments.

Now, they are sharing a limited special for Mount Dora businesses interested in creating more professional video content for social media.

Their $500 package includes one content shoot day, five cinematic reels, professional editing and color grading, licensed music, and videos optimized for Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Merch Tent Media works with restaurants, retailers, service businesses, realtors, fitness studios, and other local brands looking for polished, practical content they can use across their platforms.

The offer is limited to the first five Mount Dora businesses and runs through June 30.

For details, DM Merch Tent Media or email Jeff at [email protected].

06/17/2026

Business@Breakfast is one of the best ways Chamber members stay connected.

Every month, the room is packed with local business owners, leaders, and community partners making introductions, sharing ideas, and showing up for the Mount Dora area.

It’s one of those member perks you really feel once you’re in the room. ☕️

06/16/2026

Math homework meltdowns. Test anxiety. The dreaded “I’m just not good at math.”

Mathnasium of Mount Dora is helping local students rewrite that story.

In our latest WQBQ Radio Talk Track recap, we’re spotlighting Victoria and John Androulakis of Mathnasium of Mount Dora, a family-run math learning center in Stony Brook Plaza that works with K–12 students through assessments, personalized learning plans, homework help, test prep, and ongoing support.

During their conversation on The Chamber, The “Q,” and You, Victoria and John shared how their team helps students catch up, keep up, or get ahead — while also building the kind of confidence that can completely change how a child walks into math class.

They also talked about making learning feel fun and rewarding, from mastery checks and prize wheels to center-wide challenges that celebrate real progress.

It’s a great look at a local business helping students strengthen their skills, build confidence, and see math in a new way.

Read the full recap here: https://www.mountdora.com/news/details/wqbq-talk-track-mathnasium-of-mount-dora-helps-students-build-skills-confidence-and-a-new-relatio

06/16/2026

How does a side hustle that started with one homemade photo booth become a full-time business working 200 events a year?

That is part of the story behind ESportsPhoto - Byron Faudie, Photographer, owned by Byron Faudie.

In our latest Behind The Business feature, we’re spotlighting how Byron built eSportsPhoto into a two-sided business serving events, teams, organizations, and local businesses across Central Florida.

On one side: sports photography, event photography, photo booths, 360-style booths, red-carpet-style photo setups, instant photo delivery, headshots, and branded event experiences.

On the other: signs and banners, including vinyl banners, yard signs, and printed materials that help businesses, sponsors, teams, nonprofits, and events get noticed.

Byron also shares how Mount Dora’s event-driven community helped shape the business, why recurring events became such an important niche, what it has taken to scale a personality-driven company, and why writing a real business plan is still one of his biggest pieces of advice for other business owners.

Read the full Behind The Business feature here: https://www.mountdora.com/news/details/behind-the-business-esportsphoto-helping-events-get-seen-shared-and-remembered

Learn more about eSportsPhoto at eSportsPhoto.net, follow them on Facebook at Facebook.com/eSportsPhotoNEW, or find them on Instagram at .

06/15/2026

A new resource for recovery support is now open in Mount Dora.

Recovery Centers of America at Mount Dora will celebrate its grand opening on Wednesday, June 17, from 1 to 3 PM at 19650 US-441. The event will include a ribbon cutting, remarks from RCA at Mount Dora CEO Patty Beckett, guided tours of the facility, networking, and light refreshments.

The center provides care for people facing substance use disorder and related mental health challenges, while also offering support for families who are part of the recovery journey.

For the Mount Dora area, this grand opening is a chance for neighbors, local leaders, healthcare professionals, and community partners to learn more about the services now available close to home.

Event details and RSVP information are available in the comments.

06/15/2026

The Mount Dora Village Market is looking to welcome more food and food-related vendors.

Held every Sunday from 9 AM–2 PM in the heart of downtown Mount Dora, the Village Market has become a weekly stop for locals and visitors looking for fresh finds, artisan goods, local flavor, and a relaxed Sunday morning in town.

Right now, the market is especially interested in hearing from food or food-related vendors who would bring something new to the mix.

Several baked goods vendors are already part of the market, but if you offer something different — specialty foods, prepared items, sauces, produce, jams, honey, coffee, tea, spices, pet treats, local ingredients, or another unique food concept — the market would be happy to start a conversation.

Interested in becoming a vendor?

Contact Market Manager Don Stuart at 352-617-4188 to learn more.

Insights from a wonderful vendor and Chamber member Earl’s Bakehouse: "It would be exciting to see some truly new additions such as farm eggs, local meats, granola, tea, breakfast burritos, pretzels, fermented foods, or quality handmade items!"

06/13/2026

Tonight at The Mount Dora Bistro: La Cage ‘Les Girls’ Cabaret brings a night of glitz, glamor, music, costumes, comedy, cocktails, and full-on fabulousness to downtown Mount Dora.

Presented by Coterie Supper Club, the Friday Evening in Paris experience includes Chef’s Fondue et Flambé Dinner followed by the La Cage ‘Les Girls’ Cabaret. There is also a show-only option for $25, which includes one drink.

Expect dazzling drag performances, iconic music, big personality, and a very Bistro-style night out.

Reservation guarantee required.

The Mount Dora Bistro
142 W. 4th Avenue, Mount Dora

Event schedule and reservations:
https://www.themountdorabistro.com/event-schedule-the-mount-dora-bistro/

06/12/2026

Everything locals need to know about Salt & Ember Restaurant 👇

Downtown Mount Dora’s newest dining destination is officially open, and there are a few things worth having on your radar.

Salt & Ember has happy hour daily from 4–6 PM, weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM–3 PM, a bar that stays open daily until midnight, and Industry Night on Sundays and Mondays from 10 PM–12 AM.

The menu covers a lot of ground: raw bar selections, oysters, lobster, tuna tataki, premium caviar service, fresh seafood, prime steaks, craft cocktails, wine, lunch, dinner, brunch, indoor dining, and a tropical patio.

So whether you’re looking for oysters and cocktails after work, a weekend brunch spot, a late-night bar option, or a new dinner place downtown, Salt & Ember is one to know.

Salt & Ember is located at 322 N. Alexander Street.

More info: saltandemberrestaurant.com

06/11/2026

TODAY is the day! ✂️

The Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to celebrate Salt & Ember Restaurant ’s official ribbon cutting today at 4:30 PM and give one of downtown Mount Dora’s newest dining destinations a big Chamber welcome.

Come meet the Salt & Ember team, get to know the people behind the bar and the kitchen, and raise a glass with us as they celebrate this exciting new chapter in Mount Dora.

Happy Hour starts at 4 PM, so come early, grab a drink, and help us make this a great celebration.

📍 Salt & Ember Restaurant
322 N. Alexander St., Mount Dora

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Tomorrow ✂️

Join us at 4:30 PM as we officially celebrate this exciting milestone.

Meet our incredible team, get to know our talented bartenders, and raise a glass with us as we mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

And yes—Happy Hour still begins at 4 PM. 🍸

We look forward to celebrating with you!